Moira Frazier Ostrander (photo by David Grace)
When Michele Plescia retired from Bristol Ballet, Moira Frazier Ostrander and Amanda Hairston stepped into her shoes. Ostrander is artistic director and school of ballet director. Hairston serves as artistic and development director. In addition to a division of labor described below, they are co-directors of Bristol Ballet’s performing company.
About Amanda Hairston
Hairston is a certified progressing ballet technique instructor, certified American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 3.
Hairston began her studies at age 3 under the direction of Maryann Snyder at Bristol Ballet, where she continued her studies until the age of 16. She was then accepted into the Virginia School of the Arts where she finished her last two years of high school under the direction and instruction of Petrus Bosman, David Keener and Martha Faesi. She performed various roles including “Swan Lake’s” Neapolitan Pas de Deux, a corp member in Balanchine’s “Serenade” and a demi-soloist in “The Nutcracker’s” Waltz of the Flowers. Her senior year she performed in the Spring Gala as a demi-soloist in the reproduction of Kirk Peterson’s (ABT) “Carmen,” working alongside principal dancers of the Cincinnati Ballet. Hairson also completed various summer programs including the Joffrey Ballet School, Richmond Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre.
After graduating from VSA, she was accepted into the Richmond Ballet’s traineeship program, in which she received merit scholarships that increased each year. While there, she performed in “The Nutcracker,” “Giselle,” “Windows” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Upon completion, she decided to focus on her education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications at Virginia Commonwealth University. She even spent a semester working as the marketing intern for Richmond Ballet.
Hairston became an instructor at Bristol Ballet in 2018. She also danced in three “Nutcrackers” as well as her most recent role in “Cinderella” as a stepsister. In July 2022, she was hired as the artistic and development director.
As Artistic and Development Director, she oversees the planning and implementation of public outreach strategies. She is responsible for creating sponsorship agreements and cultivating relationships with businesses, individuals and other relevant organizations with the goal of raising money for the operational expenses and capital campaign of Bristol Ballet Company. She is also responsible for producing “The Nutcracker” every year.
About Moira Frazier Ostrander
Moira Frazier Ostrander is the artistic and school of ballet director. She is a Certified Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor, certified American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 3. As Artistic and School of Ballet Director, she is responsible for all functions of the school of Bristol Ballet. She recruits students, puts together class schedules, teaches all age levels, and manages the roster of instructors. She is also responsible for choosing and producing their spring production in May each year, which encompasses many duties: choreographing and staging the show; hiring guest artists when needed; editing the music as needed; marketing the show; and organizing all volunteers, sets, props and costumes needed for the show.
Ostrander grew up in Johnson City, Teneessee. She danced with Highlands Ballet in Abingdon, Virginia, throughout high school and performed in featured roles at the Paramount Theater in Bristol in productions such as “The Nutcracker,” “A Christmas Carol,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Beauty and the Beast.” She was invited to perform at the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Celebration. Ostrander attended several ballet summer intensives at Nutmeg Conservatory in Connecticut, Louisville Ballet in Kentucky and Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and was a resident advisor at the Fort Wayne Ballet intensive in Indiana.
Ostrander then attended Butler University, where she was a dance pedagogy major. She was a member of Butler Ballet, dancing in productions of “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker” and “Coppelia.” She was also part of several original works choreographed by Butler professors such as Tong Wang. She has studied with master teachers such as Kevin Martin, Derek Reid, Susan McGuire, Marek Cholewa, Alexi Tchernikov, Bruce Simpson, Alexander Proia, George de la Pena and Francesca Corkle. She also completed training and practicums in dance education at Butler in order to be qualified to teach ballet to children ages 3 and up.
After an injury ended her performance career, she earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Butler University and a master’s degree in art history and religious studies from Yale University. She moved back to the Tri-Cities after graduation in 2016 and started teaching college courses at various local universities. Missing the ballet studio, though, Ostrander began substitute teaching at Bristol Ballet, eventually becoming their full-time managing director in 2018. In July 1, she was promoted to artistic and school of ballet director.
